Case Report: B Lymphocyte Disorders Under COVID-19 Inflammatory Pressure

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor for cellular entry, which is present on lymphocytes.
• Elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and hyperactivated plasmacytoid lymphocytes are observed in COVID-19 patients.

Observation:

• This study reports on four patients who developed or experienced reactivation of B-cell lineage disorders during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Two patients presented with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and two developed B-cell hematological malignancies.

Findings:

• A potential causal link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the onset or exacerbation of these hematopoietic disorders is suggested by the temporal association.
• The unpredictable interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the B-cell lineage may initiate uncontrolled events leading to pathological conditions.

Implications:

• COVID-19 patients with pre-existing or underlying B-cell lineage disorders warrant heightened clinical vigilance.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to B-cell related hematological conditions.